Re: [Coconut:4137] seaweed fertilizer and books

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Severino Magat

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May 18, 2011, 6:28:33 AM5/18/11
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Hugh and others,

Sorry, i almost forgot to reply on this posting.

Would like to share our findings on the PCA's landmark work on the use of common salt (sodium chloride) as fertilizer of coconut conducted from 1980-90) in an area highly deficient in Cl, moderately deficient in S, and with very adequate levels of K and P, deep and well drained soil.  with the application rates (kg NaCl/tree per year) of 0, 0.88, 1,76, 3.52 and 7.04 kg) on bearing adult palms, following are the main significant findings:

1) a quadratic trend in nut yield with increasing NaCl rates, optimum yields achieved at 1.76 to 2.5 kg/tree/yr; 2) highly significant linear trend response to NaCl application  in terms of copra per nut and per tree/yr; even at the low rate of 1kg NaCl, already above 50% increase in yield had been obtained; 3) coconut oil content was not influenced by Nacl rates; 4)  among the leaf nutrients, only leaf Cl (leaf No.14) was linearly increased (.0.04 to 0.68% with NaCl levels. This application of common salt (NaCl, 60 % Cl, 40% Na) clearly indicated that it is a cheaper source of fertilizer for coconut for lands with soils with adequate levels of plant-available k ( as exchangeable K > 0.83 meq/100 g soil or total k of >600 ppm).


The average Cl and Na content of sea water are: 1.9% and 1.08%. The others are: 420 ppm Ca, 350 ppm K, 1340 ppm Mg and 2700 ppm sulfate. The content of these in river water and rain water are much much lower. 

For coconut, research studies in the Philippines (Magat, 1992 and 1999) showed the average Cl anionic nutrient needs of coconut  as: Field-planting - 60 g. at 6 mos - 0.11 kg, 1yr - 0.20 kg, 2 yrs - 0.40 kg, 3yrs - 0.50, 4yrs - 0.70 and 5yrs and onwards - 0.90 kg.  Using the average content of seawater (SW) Cl, respectively, the volume of seawater at different ages or stages of development : 3.15 liters, 5.8 liters, 10.5 liters, 21 liters, 26 liters, 37 liters and 47-63 liters per palm.

Mainly, the salt fertilization of coconuts in the Philippiines, Indonesia and elsewhere are based on this scientific data.
in this work in the  Philippines Recent massive application of 2 kg common salt /tree per year resulted in 25%  and 45 % increase in nut and copra yields at 1.5 years from initial fertilization, reaching as high as 85 % increase in copra in some areas due to increase in meat thickness and nut yield combined.

Cheers,

Sev Magat

--- On Mon, 5/9/11, Hugh Harries <hugh.h...@gmail.com> wrote:

From: Hugh Harries <hugh.h...@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Coconut:4137] seaweed fertilizer and books
To: coc...@googlegroups.com
Date: Monday, May 9, 2011, 3:58 PM

I was hoping that Sev Magat or Mike Foale might have something to say about being cautious when using sea water for irrigation.

Seaweed and sodium chloride (especially at inland locations) as fertilizers can safely be recommended but if sea water is continually used for irrigation there is the risk of  an adverse accumulation of salts.

That is particularly so in dry climates where irrigation is essential  (like Salalah in Oman, to mention a recent publication in CORD). Fortunately, most coconuts grow in areas where the wet season rainfall flushes the excess salts away.

Where coconuts grow on the seashore there is almost always a layer (or lens) of fresh or only slightly saline water above the level of sea water and the rise and fall of the tide ensures that the coconut root zone is constantly refreshed.
On 8 May 2011 00:01, Adolfo Martinez <amar...@gmail.com> wrote:
You can use sea water to water coconuts. Be careful no to spray the leaves.

On Sat, May 7, 2011 at 4:40 PM, elan sun star <elans...@gmail.com> wrote:

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On May 7, 2011, at 10:22 AM, elan sun star wrote:

Yes...Most human beings associate (as a conditioned response) that coconuts grow  on coastlines close to the ocean and to some degree this is true
Developing new varieties that can grow further inland or in higher altitudes might be a worthy venture as we all go along 
Don't forget the importance of pollination bringing in honeybees is critical.
how many of you use honeybees in your orchard?

I have not seen any detailed conversation here on nutrients and resulting growth adn hardiness as well as disease resistance. this is 
important as it will lead to higher brix conent and resulting sweeter water and oils.
I cannot stress the importance of the new huamn consumption health foods store virgin coconut oil market. and the medicianal use of 
lauric Acid and Caprylic acid from coconut for combatting yeast and fungal infections in humans


Lets avoid wasting valueable medicinal oil and health use oil and ignore oil as a biofuel which is a total waste of the product in an expanding exploding market.

elan  Hawaii
(PS  are you in australia?)

On May 7, 2011, at 9:57 AM, [ Brainiac ] wrote:

thanks, that really helps and Dr Murrays interviews and talks are amazing. I will include this concept as a possible area of exploration, it does make sense to use seawater if it is viable as costs of delivery to the farms will be much lower compared to underground water.

Thanks a lot.
Cheers.

On Sat, May 7, 2011 at 10:29 PM, elan sun star <elans...@gmail.com> wrote:
On the same note of Nutrient additions I got a 15-20% increase in the yeild of coconut production and about 10% increase in chlorophyll in the fronds of coconuts using paramagnetic rock dusts in the soil around the trees (can be made into a solution for watering )
The best one we have in hawaii is basalt (very paramagnetic). Lava works well too (volcanic soils).

Elan   Hawaii

On May 7, 2011, at 8:47 AM, [ Brainiac ] wrote:

Aloha!

I did google but was hoping to get more concrete answers to ...

1: Do the coconuts that grow on those sandy places derive their water from the sea or do they just tolerate the sea and drive their root system down to seek fresh underground water.

preliminary findings from this Dr Maynard seem to indicate use of sea water minerals to enhance crop productivity, more like using it to fortify the seed.

any real users of this option?

On Sat, May 7, 2011 at 9:29 PM, elan sun star <elans...@gmail.com> wrote:
Aloha
I have seen in excess of 5,000 coconut trees of different varieties in many coastal locations globally growing  on the edge of salt water marshes and beaches and lagoons and have never encountered any situations wherein coconuts were adversely affected by salt water. 
they actually thrived in these locataions
if you google the work of Dr Maynard Murray entitled 
Sea energy Agriculture 
with incredible results using sea water .
Plants would prefer less of the sodium filtered out but msot have adapted throughout the years to accept saline irrigation.
Roland?
Elan Star    Hawaii




On May 7, 2011, at 8:18 AM, [ Brainiac ] wrote:

Hello folks,
I am working out the layout for a 1000 acre farm i want to put in coconuts and on irrigation, it occurs to me that coconuts reside some quite close to the salty water. Does anyone know if it is practical to irrigate entirely using sea water after the second year?

Does anyone know any long term side effects of this and if it has an increased yield compared to not irrigating?

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Emilia Umaña

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May 18, 2011, 7:22:56 PM5/18/11
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Dear Mr. Magat,
 
The application of NaCl was made in what way? through the soil or aerial? I have been doing some tests with aerial fertilization adding amino acids to promote abosorbtion, it has given me great results so far. My soil has a fair amount of clay and I am afraid that a fertilization to the soil with NaCl may fix the sodium to the particles of clay.
 
Atte,
 
Emilia Umaña

Severino Magat

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May 19, 2011, 9:52:53 AM5/19/11
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Emilia,

Common salt ( sea salt or rock salt) with a chemical formula of Na Cl (60% Cl, and 40% Na, highly  soluble in water and easily absorbs moisture from the atmosphere) is an effective and cost-efficient  chloride fertilizer on coconut (cheaper than KCl and NH4Cl).  Like the last two fertilizers mentioned, it is usually applied onto the soil in solid form with NaCl, separating into Na+ and Cl- thru hydrolysis (reaction with water). As such, Na +ions replace the K+ions in the soil exchange complex, usually rich in other cations as Ca++, Mg++ and H adsorbed by the negative charges of the soil (thru clay minerals, humus components, etc). Thus, the more K+ are now in the soil solution (hence the plant roots can easily absorb K+ and are transported to the plant parts where K+ are needed by the plant for growth and yield), while the Na+ from the NaCl compound are adsorbed in the soil complex as a as result of the cation exchange reaction that takes in the soil. Moreover, with application of common salt, the plant or crops are able to source the K nutrient needs (even without K fertilization) via the mechanism I mentioned.

 By the way, I was able to observe this theory in practical example in my research works as in sugar beet (Magat, 1985, PhD thesis, LIncoln College, New Zealand).

Cl a natural nutrient  from the seawater are deposited in coastal and inland areas via aerial sea spray/aerosol. Both Na and Cl could be deposited in coastal areas thru soil water intrusion to the land. Naturally, coconut palms, because of their high requirement for Cl nutrient and high tolerance of Na is the most suitable all-purpose crop in coastal areas (coastal-flat or coastal-upland land forms.

Hoping this elaboration/clarification adds to your knowledge. 

Cheers,

Sev Magat
--- On Thu, 5/19/11, Emilia Umaña <emilia...@gmail.com> wrote:

elan star

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May 19, 2011, 6:17:48 PM5/19/11
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Aloha from Hawaii
Even though the comprehensive trace mineral content in sea salt and ocean spray is an assistant in mineralization of and nutritional supplement of coconuts a preferable modality with less sodium (the caustic side of sea water and salt)
is diluted seaweed extracts

The beneficial aspect of ocean water is nothing more than those trace minerals which have a decidedly synergistic effect in the growth pattern of any plant the salt is not beneficial ESPECIALLY and always any other form of salt but salt in nature is always accompanied by the other trace mineral compliments.

I suggest everyone doing research on seaweed extracts i can send a host of links on various trials over the last 60 years or more with seaweed extracts an plant growth including coconuts

Elan Sun Star
Hawaii

Severino Magat

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May 21, 2011, 11:54:44 AM5/21/11
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Emilia, Hi !

For nut-bearing palms (adult/mature), the application of 2-3 kg common salt (NaCl) /tree/yr is applied on to the soil, once or in split every 6 mos. Upon reaction with water (soil moisture, the NaCl separates into  Na+ and Cl- ions. Na+ takes the place of K+ adsorbed in the soil exchange complex (soil is dominated by negative charges, reason why cations as Ca++, Mg++, K+ Na+, H+ are naturally adsorbed by the soil), Hence K+ goes to the soil solution where the roots could easily absorb this to the plant system. Why Na+ can replace K+ in the soil exchange complex (these positive ions are monovalent, almost same ionic sze).  Fixation of nutrients in the soil is due to: chemical reactions or to ionic nutrients inserted in latices/alternating layers of soil clay minerals. In the soil environment, soil cations could be under several forms, fixed, in non-exchangeable, in exchangeable, in solution.  the degree of availability for plant uptake via the roots is the increasing order, respectively.

Hope this helps clarify your query.

Cheers,

Sev Magat



--- On Thu, 5/19/11, Emilia Umaña <emilia...@gmail.com> wrote:

From: Emilia Umaña <emilia...@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Coconut:4175] seaweed fertilizer and books
To: coc...@googlegroups.com
Date: Thursday, May 19, 2011, 7:22 AM

elan star

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May 21, 2011, 1:30:44 PM5/21/11
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Emilia 
 You said that you had excellent results with "aerial fertilization" 
You mean foliar sprays yes?

Foliar sprays always have an enormous effect no matter what the crop or plant. Continue that by all means but not with any form of salt with the sodium content concentrated.
In the ocean with true sea water there is more than sodium in the seawater (much more).  see 

 Investigate the seaweed extracts. In your area you can find them possibly in the form of Maxicrop which is one vert affordable very concentrated seaweed extract with the full comprehensive range of minerals and trace elements not just salt
We have confused "salt" with the "trace elements in salt" ( normal salt from a sea bed) 
Continue Foliar Sprays when possible as they are an excellent feeding philosophy.
We MUST look at the results of any fertilization on the soil. and the qualities of soil after any fertilizer use. Compaction and non aeration of soil and salination of soil is considered one of the biggest problems in agriculture.

There is more to it than isolated elements
the synergy of the composition is more important that NPK or anything else.
Large amounts of sodium always and even result in plant death and shock and especially a sodium isolate (a non sea salt full spectrum man made salt).
Nature has already provided the best array of nutrient dense and ionic and cationic balance in its various formulae. it is the trace minerals the are the catalysts for real biochemical miracles.
Elan Star   Hawaii


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